Filing cabinet containing storing frames for suspended sheets

ABSTRACT

A filing cabinet for the storing of thin sheet-like articles such as drawings, blue prints, maps or the like comprises one or a number of storing frames each having a pivotable frame part in which the sheets are suspended. Each said frame part is pivotable between a horizontal position in which easy handling of the sheets is permitted, and a vertical position in which the sheets are stored close to each other. The frames may serve as or be displaceable into and out of the cabinet in a direction parallel to the axis of said pivot. A protection shield comprising at least three parts linked to each other keeps the sheets closely packed together in the storing position and avoids the risk of damage to the sheets. Each storing frame may be provided with roller, guide and stop means.

States Pate 5 [191 Ltmdberg Dec. 10, 1974 [54] FILING CABINET CONTAININGSTORING 1,381,907 6/1921 Delisle i 312/184 FRAMES FOR SUSPENDED SHEETS2,370,664 3/1945 Hubbell 312/ 184 2,967,079 1/1961 Parvis 312/184 [76]Inventor: Kurt Bonnie Karl Axel Lundberg,

I l 1, 141 71 d g j gzi Hu dmge Primary Examzner-James C. MitchellAttorney, Agent, or FirmSughrue, Rothwell, Mion, [22] Filed: Dec. 7,1972 Zinn & Macpeak [21] Appl. No.: 313,056

Related US. Application Data ABSTRACT [631 Continuation-impart of183,152 Sept- 23, A filing cabinet forthe storing of thin sheet-likearti- 1971' abandoned cles such as drawings, blue prints, maps or thelike comprises one or a number of storing frames each [30] ForelgnApphcatwn Priority Data having a pivotable frame part in which thesheets are Dec. 22, Sweden uspended Each Said frame part is between Sept24, 1971 Great 44551/71 a horizontal position in which easy handling ofthe Dec. 12, Australia heets is permitted and a vertical position thesheets are stored close to each other. The frames U-S. n may erve as orbe displaceable into and out of the 312/345 cabinet in a directionparallel to the axis of said pivot. v A protection hield comprising atleast three. parts [58] Field of Search 312/ 183, 184, 323, 342, linkedto each other keeps h Sheets closely packed 312/ 345 together in thestoring position and avoids the risk of damage to the sheets. Eachstoring frame may be pro- References Clted vided with roller, guide andstop means.

UNITED STATES PATENTS 546,647 9/1895 Barnes 312 323 x 24 Clams 13 D'awmgF'gures PATENTD', an: 1 01974 SHEET 5 or 6 FILING CABINET CONTAININGSTORING FRAMES FOR SUSPENDED SHEETS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONThis application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No.183,152, filed Sept. 23, 1971, and now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In devices for filing or storing thin sheetssuch as constructional drawings, the problem is met that the storedsheets shall take as little space as possible while simultaneously thetaking out and bringing back, respectively, of a certain sheet shall beeasily permitted. Previously known filing and storing devices for thinsheetlike articles have as a rule been very bulky and have often notpermitted sufficient protection of the sheets at the handling thereof.Some examples of such previously known cabinets are described in US Pat.No. 1,381,907, French Pat. No. l,067,725 and German Pat. No. 353,446.Each of said previously known cabinets comprise a pivotable storingframe which in some of the arrangements is also displaceable relative tothe cabinet in a direction forming an angle of 90 with the pivot axis.Such a cabinet only contains one-storing frame for the sheets and has,thus, a rather low storing capacity despite great space-requirements.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A filing cabinet according to the presentinvention as defined in the attached claims avoids the abovementioneddrawbacks. In the filing position each storing frame containing forinstance 50 suspended sheets, which may have a width of only a fewcentimeters and a filing cabinet comprising for instance such frames,i.e., having a filing capacity of about 500 sheets, will have a totalwidth of only about half a meter. When a sheet to be taken out thecorresponding storing frame is displaced out of and cabinet and extendedor folded open, easy handling of the desired sheet is granted.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Other objects and advantages willappear from the detailed description given below of some embodiments offiling cabinets according to the invention. The description refers tothe attacheddrawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a filing cabinet according to theinvention comprising a number of displaceable storing frames;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view'of a storing frame belonging to the filingcabinet according to FIG. 1;

FIG. 3a is a perspective view and illustrates the storing frameaccording to FIG. 2 in an outwardly pivoted position of a pivotableframe part belonging thereto; FIGS. 3b and 3c are perspective viewsillustrating the design of a protecting shield belonging to the storingframe shown in FIGS. 2 and 3a in an inwardly and an outwardly pivotedposition, respectively;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a sheetholder, a number of said holdersbeing insertable in a storing frame in the position shown in FIG. 3a;

FIG. 5 is a vertical section through the holder according to FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 illustrates a holder according to FIG. 4 in a position for theattachment of a sheet;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a modified embodiment of a filingcabinet, one of its storing frames being displaced out of the cabinet;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the cabinet according to FIG. 7, theoutwardly displaced storing frame being in a partly collapsed position;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view in which the storing frame shown in FIG. 7takes the fully extended horizontal position;

FIG. 10 is a'perspective' view of a detail of a bearing means for astoring frame belonging to a cabinet according to any of FIGS. 7-9; and

FIG. 1 l is a perspective view of another embodiment of afiling cabinetfor mounting on a wall or desk, etc.

DESCRIPTION or THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The different parts in theembodiment according to FIGS. 7-11 have been given the same numerals asthe corresponding parts in the embodiment according to FIGS. 1-4 buthave been provided with a prime-sign A filing cabinet 1 is intended forthe storing of a great number of thin sheet-like articles such asdrawings. The cabinet contains 10 adjacent storing frames 2 shaped likecarriages eachof which may be displaced out of the cabinet by meansof ahandle 3. Each storing frame has an upper guide rail 11 which cooperateswith bearing and supporting means in the upper portion of the cabinet.At one side the guide rail 11 projects from the body of :the storingframe. In the displaced position of the storing frames, the projectionportion of the guide rail is still within the cabinet where itcooperates with a suitable stop means (not shown) which prevents theframe from being withdrawn out of the cabinet.

At the middle of the vertical-portion of, the rectangular storing frame2, each frame part 4 is pivoted at 16, 17, the pivot axis being parallelto the guide rail 11. Each said frame part 4 has a number for instance50 of pairs of opposite supports 5 for holders secured to the upperportion of the drawings. The supports comprise slits which are cut outat the upper edge of the pivotable frame part 4 and are directed in anoblique direction downwardsand backwards. The supports 5 have a roundedbottom. I

At the front edge of the pivotable frame part4, two supporting legs 12,l3-are journalled at 15. Said legs are pivoted outwards when the frameportion is pivoted to the horizontal position and are retained by meansof adetent mechanism 14 of suitable design.

Around the front, bottom, and rear side of each storing frame 2, thereis a protective shield 6 comprising three main parts 6a, 6b, 6c andhaving a number of folds 7, 8, 9, 10 therebetween. The shield is madefrom a material such as paper, plastics, a metal, or a woven material.The shield 6 coincides with the shape of the frame in the collapsed andoutwardly pivoted position, respectively. The protective shield 6 is' soformed that, in the vertical position of the pivotable frame part 4, ittightens around the sheets therewithin, i.e., so that the frame does nothave any projecting portions but without difficulty may be displacedinto the cabinet. The protective shield 6 ensures then that the sheetswill not be damaged during said operation. In the outwardly pivotedposition of the frame shown in FIG. 3a, the protective shield 6efficiently prevents damage to the sheets, as might occur when a personuses the cabinet by taking out or bringing back one or more sheetsstored therein.

When the protective shield 6 is made of a woven material, it may beprovided with any suitable tightening device, such as elastic bands,(not shown) which adapt the shield to the actual shape of the frame whenit is pivoted to the collapsed position.

One holder for sheets such as drawings insertable in the pivotable frameportion is shown in FIGS. 4-6. The holder comprises a rear part 18 whichemerges into a part 19 shaped like a pipe or a bulge, the outer portionsof which are supported in the supports 5. T-shaped slits 20, 21 areformed in'part 19. The slits 20, 21 accept a pivotable front piece 22provided with pivotable hinge means 23, 24 shaped to correspond with theslits 20, 21. Part 19 also has one or more slits 25, 26 for acorresponding number of clamping springs 27, 28 which are adapted toforce the front part 22 against the rear part 18 after insertion of adrawing.

In FIG. 6, the holder is shown in a position for insertion of a drawingwith the front part 22 pivoted forwardly-upwardly from the rear part 18,so that the sheet can be conveniently placedin position.

The distance between the supports in the pivotable frame part 4 maysuitably amount to about mm, all holders then being within easy reach.The length of a pivotable frame part 4 which may contain 50 holders willthen somewhat exceed half a meter. The width of the pivotable frame part4 may suitably amount to about 3 cm, which means that the totalhorizontal space required for each sheet will only amount to about 0.6mm in the storing position.

The pivotable frame part 4 may be shaped like a channel member, thesupports 5 cut out in the vertical flange being directed inwards. In thebottom of the said channel member, a record of the different supportsmay be attached so that a desired sheet may be taken out easily andrapidly. Further, the sheet holders may be provided with a suspendingmeans of suitable design or in one way or the other cooperate with aseparate suspension device so. that a sheet brought out can be suspendedfor observation.

Referring now to FIGS. 7-10, 1 denotes a modified filing cabinetcontaining a number of adjacent storing frames 2". Instead of an upperguide rail 11, as in the previous embodiment, each storing frame 2 is atits bottom supportedby outer and inner rollers 31', 32'. The outerroller 31 rolls on the floor whereas the inner roller 32' rolls on atrack at the bottom of the cabinet as will be described hereinbelow withreference to FIG.

Each storing frame 2' has a pivotable frame part 4' linked theretoat-l6, l7. In this embodiment a protective shield 6 comprising threemetal plates 6'a, 6'b, and tic is used. The bottom plate 6'!) is linkedto the front plate 6a and the rear plate 6's. In addition to protectingthe stored sheets 41', the front plate 6a forms a support for thepivotable frame part 4' so that no separate legs are necessary for thepurpose.

The rear shield plate 6a extends all along the height of the storingframe. Accordingly, complete protection of the sheets 41 is ensured inthe vertical position of the pivotable frame part shown in FIG. 7, i.e.,there is no risk that any sheet shall become damaged when the frame 2'is displaced into or out of the cabinet 1'.

In the extended position of each storing frame 2', a desired sheet 41'may be brought out below its pivotable frame part 4' as illustrated inFIG. 9.

As mentioned above, each storing frame 2' is displaceable into and outof the cabinet, respectively, by means of inner and outer rollers 31,32'. The inner roller arrangement is shown in FIG. 10. A flanged roller32' rolls on a track comprising two spaced plates or rails 33, 34'. Thebottom Za of the storing frame 2 rests on the roller 32. A releasablepin 35' positioned at the rear end of bottom portion 2"a projects belowthe said roller 32 so as to abut a transverse member 36' having spacedprojections 36'a directed upwards. A stop and guide means for thestoring frame is accordingly formed at the bottom of the cabinet. It isnot possible to withdraw the storing frame out of the cabinet withoutreleasing the pin 35 When one storing frame 2' is displaced relative tothe cabinet, it is guided between two projections 36'a and adjacentframes 2. The cabinet may instead or in addition contain separatecompartments for each storing frame. Suitably disposed snap means .40holds the pivotable frame part 4' releasably attached to the rest of itsstoring frame 2' in the vertical position of the pivotable frame part 4'as shownin FIG. 8.

FIG. 11 illustrates another embodiment of the present invention similarto that shown in FlGS.f7-10. In FIG. 11, frame 2' is mounted on a wall,table, or desk and may serve as a folding filing cabinet. The structureof frame 2 is the same as is described with respect to FIGS. 7-9 exceptthat rollers 31' and the inner roller arrangement of FIG. 10 are notrequired. It may, however, be released from the wall and provided with ahandle, roller and stop means of the kind disclosed in FIGS. 7-10 andused in a filing cabinet 1' shown in the said figures when there is aneed for a greater filing capacity. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 1,when the frame part 4' is in the down or open position (not shown, butthe same as FIG. 9), 4 is supported by member 42. Frame 4' is held inthe up or closed position by means of latch 40.

The means for pivoting the frame parts 4, 4' and displacing each frame2, 2' in parallel with the pivot axis of said pivot may be designed indifferent ways. Good storing capacity within a predetermined space andeasy handling of the stored articles will be important features for allsuch embodiments. Further a protective shield similar to any of the onesdescribed above will reduce the risk that any of the stored articlesshall become damaged.

I claim:

1. A filing cabinet for storing sheet-like articles in a suspendedposition, said cabinet comprising:

a. a housing;

b. a plurality of frame means movable relative to said housing having afirst position within said housing and a second position outside of saidhousing;

c. a plurality of receiving means, each receiving meansreceiving aplurality of holding means secured to the upper portion of saidarticles, wherein each receiving means corresponds to one of saidplurality of frame means; and

d. pivot means for coupling said receiving means to a corresponding oneof said frame means, wherein said receiving means pivot between aperpendicular and parallel position with respect to said frame means,such that when said receiving means is in said perpendicular positionsaid articles are suspended a first predetermined distance apartparallel to said frame means, said holding means all lying in a singleplane perpendicular to said frame means and when said receiving means isin said parallel position said articles are suspended a secondpredetermined distance apart said second predetermined distance beingsubstantially negligible, said holding means all lying in the plane ofsaid frame means. i

2. A cabinet as claimed in claim 1 further including a protection shieldmeans for holding said articles closely packed together when saidreceiving means is in said parallel position to avoid damage to saidarticles when said frame means is moved into said cabinet.

3. A cabinet as claimed in claim 2, wherein said protection shield meanscomprises at least three parts for the front, bottom and rear side ofthe frame, the bottom part being linked to the front and rear part,respectively. v

4. A cabinet as claimed in claim 3, wherein the height of the rearshield part is approximately twice the height of the front shield partbut less than the height of said cabinet. a

5. A cabinet as claimed in claim 2, wherein said front part of saidprotecting shield forms -a support leg for said receiving means in theperpendicular position thereof.

6. A cabinet as claimed in claim 1, further comprising roller means foreach of said frame means, said ro'ller means positioned at the bottom ofsaid cabinet wherein said roller means comprises at least one outerroller en- 8. A cabinet as claimed in claim 7, wherein said guide andstop means comprises a releasable pin disposed at the bottom of saidframe means behind said inner roller so as to project downwardly betweentwo spaced members forming said track, and a cross-member positioned atthe front bottom portion of said cabinet and provided with abutments forsaid inner roller, said crossmember cooperating with said pin whenengaged by said inner roller thereby preventingsaid frame means frombeing withdrawn from said cabinet.

9. A filing cabinet for storing sheet-like articles in a suspendedposition, said cabinet comprising:

a. frame means;

breceiving means including a plurality of holding means adapted to besecured to the upper part of said articles;

c. pivot means at the inner 'end of said receiving means for couplingsaid receiving means to said frame means to permit said receiving meansto pivot upwardly from a perpendicular to a parallel position withrespect to said frame means, such that when said receiving means is insaid perpendicular position, said articles are suspended a'firstpredetermined distance apart parallel to said frame means, said holdingmeans all lying in a single plane perpendicular tosaid frame means and,when said receiving means is in said parallel position, said articlesare suspended a'second predetermined dis-' being substantiallynegligible, said holding means all lying in the plane of said framemeans.

10. A cabinet as claimed in claim 9 and further comprising means forsecuring said frame means to a vertical surface.

11. A cabinet as claimed in claim further including a protection shieldmeans for holding said articles closely packed together when saidreceiving means is in said parallel position.

12. A cabinet as claimed in claim 11, wherein said protection shieldmeans comprises at least three parts for the front, bottom, and rearside of said frame means, the bottom part being linked to the front andrear part, respectively.

13. A cabinet as claimed in claim 12, wherein the height of the rearshield part is approximately twice the height of the front shield partbut less than the height of said cabinet.

14. A cabinet as claimed in claim 11, wherein said front part of saidprotecting shield forms a support leg for said receiving means in theperpendicular position thereof.

15. A filing cabinet forstoring sheet-like articles in 'a suspendedposition, said cabinet comprising:

a. a frame having thereon first and second pivo points spaced from oneanother;

b. a first frame part pivoted at one end to said first pivot point;

c. a second frame part pivoted at one end to said second pivot point;

d. a first plurality of supports for holders for articles to be storedin said filing cabinet, said supports being located on and spaced afirst predetermined distance apart on said first frame part; i

e. a second plurality of supports for holders for articles to be storedin said filing cabinet, said second plurality of supports. being locatedon said second frame part and spaced apart by said first predetermineddistance, i

whereby sheet-like articles suspended from said first and second frameparts will hang said first predetermined distance apart parallel to saidframe when said frame parts are perpendicular to said frame and, whensaid frame parts are pivoted from a position perpendicular to said frameto a position parallel to said frame, sheet-like articles suspended fromsaid first and second frame parts will hang a second predetermineddistance apart parallel to said frame, said second predetermineddistance being substantially negligible.

16. A filing cabinet as claimed in claim'lS and further'comprising meansfor ensuring that said first and second frame parts pivot together.

17. A filing cabinet as claimed in claim 15 and further comprising meansfor releasably locking said first and second frame parts in positionperpendicular to said frame.

18. A filing cabinet as claimed in claim 15 and further comprising meansfor releasably locking said first and second frame parts in positionparallel to said frame.

19. A filing cabinet as claimed in claim 15 and further comprising meansfor securing said frame to a vertical surface. 1

20. A filing cabinet as claimed in claim 15 and further comprisingshield means for holding sheet-likearticles suspended from said firstand second frame parts 22. A filing cabinet as claimed in claim 21wherein said front part is longer than the longest sheet-like articleintended to be enclosed in said filing cabinet.

23. A filing cabinet as claimed in claim 21 wherein said shield meansfurther comprises a rear part connected to said frame, said bottom partbeing pivotably connected to said rear part.

24. A filing cabinet as claimed in claim 21 wherein said front partforms a support leg for said first and second frame parts when saidframe parts are positioned perpendicularly to said frame.

1. A filing cabinet for storing sheet-like articles in a suspendedposition, said cabinet comprising: a. a housing; b. a plurality of framemeans movable relative to said housing having a first position withinsaid housing and a second position outside of said housing; c. aplurality of receiving means, each receiving means receiving a pluralityof holding means secured to the upper portion of said articles, whereineach receiving means corresponds to one of said plurality of framemeans; and d. pivot means for coupling said receiving means to acorresponding one of said frame means, wherein said receiving meanspivot between a perpendicular and parallel position with respect to saidframe means, such that when said receiving means is in saidperpendicular position said articles are suspended a first predetermineddistance apart parallel to said frame means, said holding means alllying in a single plane perpendicular to said frame means and when saidreceiving means is in said parallel position said articles are suspendeda second predetermined distance apart said second predetermined distancebeing substantially negligible, said holding means all lying in theplane of said frame means.
 2. A cabinet as claimed in claim 1 furtherincluding a protection shield means for holding said articles closelypacked together when said receiving means is in said parallel positionto avoid damage to said articles when said frame means is moved intosaid cabinet.
 3. A cabinet as claimed in claim 2, wherein saidprotection shield means comprises at least three parts for the front,bottom and rear side of the frame, the bottom part being linked to thefront and rear part, respectively.
 4. A cabinEt as claimed in claim 3,wherein the height of the rear shield part is approximately twice theheight of the front shield part but less than the height of saidcabinet.
 5. A cabinet as claimed in claim 2, wherein said front part ofsaid protecting shield forms a support leg for said receiving means inthe perpendicular position thereof.
 6. A cabinet as claimed in claim 1,further comprising roller means for each of said frame means, saidroller means positioned at the bottom of said cabinet wherein saidroller means comprises at least one outer roller engaging the floor andat least one inner roller engaging a track at the bottom of saidcabinet.
 7. A cabinet as claimed in claim 6, further comprising guideand stop means for each of said frame means for cooperating with saidinner roller means.
 8. A cabinet as claimed in claim 7, wherein saidguide and stop means comprises a releasable pin disposed at the bottomof said frame means behind said inner roller so as to project downwardlybetween two spaced members forming said track, and a cross-memberpositioned at the front bottom portion of said cabinet and provided withabutments for said inner roller, said cross-member cooperating with saidpin when engaged by said inner roller thereby preventing said framemeans from being withdrawn from said cabinet.
 9. A filing cabinet forstoring sheet-like articles in a suspended position, said cabinetcomprising: a. frame means; b. receiving means including a plurality ofholding means adapted to be secured to the upper part of said articles;c. pivot means at the inner end of said receiving means for couplingsaid receiving means to said frame means to permit said receiving meansto pivot upwardly from a perpendicular to a parallel position withrespect to said frame means, such that when said receiving means is insaid perpendicular position, said articles are suspended a firstpredetermined distance apart parallel to said frame means, said holdingmeans all lying in a single plane perpendicular to said frame means and,when said receiving means is in said parallel position, said articlesare suspended a second predetermined distance apart, said secondpredetermined distance being substantially negligible, said holdingmeans all lying in the plane of said frame means.
 10. A cabinet asclaimed in claim 9 and further comprising means for securing said framemeans to a vertical surface.
 11. A cabinet as claimed in claim 9 furtherincluding a protection shield means for holding said articles closelypacked together when said receiving means is in said parallel position.12. A cabinet as claimed in claim 11, wherein said protection shieldmeans comprises at least three parts for the front, bottom, and rearside of said frame means, the bottom part being linked to the front andrear part, respectively.
 13. A cabinet as claimed in claim 12, whereinthe height of the rear shield part is approximately twice the height ofthe front shield part but less than the height of said cabinet.
 14. Acabinet as claimed in claim 11, wherein said front part of saidprotecting shield forms a support leg for said receiving means in theperpendicular position thereof.
 15. A filing cabinet for storingsheet-like articles in a suspended position, said cabinet comprising: a.a frame having thereon first and second pivot points spaced from oneanother; b. a first frame part pivoted at one end to said first pivotpoint; c. a second frame part pivoted at one end to said second pivotpoint; d. a first plurality of supports for holders for articles to bestored in said filing cabinet, said supports being located on and spaceda first predetermined distance apart on said first frame part; e. asecond plurality of supports for holders for articles to be stored insaid filing cabinet, said second plurality of supports being located onsaid second frame part and spaced apart by said first predetermineddistance, whereby sheet-like artIcles suspended from said first andsecond frame parts will hang said first predetermined distance apartparallel to said frame when said frame parts are perpendicular to saidframe and, when said frame parts are pivoted from a positionperpendicular to said frame to a position parallel to said frame,sheet-like articles suspended from said first and second frame partswill hang a second predetermined distance apart parallel to said frame,said second predetermined distance being substantially negligible.
 16. Afiling cabinet as claimed in claim 15 and further comprising means forensuring that said first and second frame parts pivot together.
 17. Afiling cabinet as claimed in claim 15 and further comprising means forreleasably locking said first and second frame parts in positionperpendicular to said frame.
 18. A filing cabinet as claimed in claim 15and further comprising means for releasably locking said first andsecond frame parts in position parallel to said frame.
 19. A filingcabinet as claimed in claim 15 and further comprising means for securingsaid frame to a vertical surface.
 20. A filing cabinet as claimed inclaim 15 and further comprising shield means for holding sheet-likearticles suspended from said first and second frame parts closely packedtogether when said frame parts are parallel to said frame.
 21. A filingcabinet as claimed in claim 20 wherein said shield means comprise: a. afront part pivotably connected to said first and second frame parts atthe end thereof remote from said frame; b. a bottom part pivotablyconnected to said front part at the end thereof remote from said frontpart.
 22. A filing cabinet as claimed in claim 21 wherein said frontpart is longer than the longest sheet-like article intended to beenclosed in said filing cabinet.
 23. A filing cabinet as claimed inclaim 21 wherein said shield means further comprises a rear partconnected to said frame, said bottom part being pivotably connected tosaid rear part.
 24. A filing cabinet as claimed in claim 21 wherein saidfront part forms a support leg for said first and second frame partswhen said frame parts are positioned perpendicularly to said frame.